The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, has reaffirmed the critical role of traditional institutions in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
Nwakuche asserted this while receiving two traditional rulers who paid separate courtesy visits to the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Jane Osuji, the Controller-General stressed that successful correctional administration goes beyond keeping offenders in custodial facilities.
He noted that families, communities and traditional institutions have important roles to play in ensuring that former inmates successfully return to society, reducing recidivism and promoting safer communities.
Nwakuche said effective rehabilitation required the collective efforts of relevant stakeholders, particularly community leaders who could help create an enabling environment for former inmates to rebuild their lives.
During one of the visits, the Gomo of Kuje, Haruna Tanko Jibrin, pledged the continued support of the Kuje traditional institution to the Correctional Service.
Jibrin also emphasised the importance of cooperation between host communities and custodial facilities in promoting peace and security.
He said stronger collaboration between traditional institutions, communities and correctional authorities would contribute to maintaining peaceful relations and addressing security concerns within host communities.
Similarly, the Paramount Ruler of the Kajju Traditional Council, Luka Kogi Yabuwat, a retired correctional officer, called for increased community support for the reintegration of former inmates.
Yabuwat warned against stigmatisation and exclusion of ex-offenders, stressing that rejection by society could undermine rehabilitation efforts and make successful reintegration more difficult.
He advocated greater acceptance and support for former inmates as they return to their communities and seek to rebuild their lives.
The Controller-General reiterated that the ultimate objective of corrections was not merely to keep offenders in custody but to rehabilitate them and prepare them for responsible reintegration into society.
He maintained that sustained collaboration among correctional authorities, families, traditional rulers and communities remained essential to achieving lasting rehabilitation, reducing recidivism and building safer communities.
